November 2008
13-11-8
Today's review comes from Kenny Mathieson of the Scotsman. **** Reassuringly, it appears that they have all heard the same piece!
12-11-8
Hebrides Ensemble and Aotromachd review in the Glasgow Herald. *****!
11-11-8
For those awake at 3am GMT on 12 November, WPKN will be broadcasting I Saw a Woman Sit Alone, recorded way back in 2003, featuring the voice of Andrea Edith Moore, myself on violin, Richmond Punch on viola and Ariana Falk on cello. Available online via their website.
9-11-8
Just been sent the Guardian review of Aotromachd.
8-11-8
The Hebrides Ensemble (playing Aotromachd) are Pick of the Week in today's Guardian.
7-11-8
Sarah Urwin Jones reviews Aotromachd in the Times. I am comfortable with my lack of prettiness.
Also, an interview about Aotromachd is featured today on Classic FM Arts Daily - you can listen here. Yes, I am probably somewhat on the rambly side.
October 2008
28-10-8
Review of The Island in the Birmingham Post here.
September 2008
19-9-8
Hebrides Ensemble tour dates announced: 5-10 November, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Fettercairn, Thurso, and Inverness. More details here. Aotromachd is almost completed.
July 2008
3-7-8
Winner of the Royal Philharmonic Society Composition Prize 2008. MUSO article here.
1-7-8
Commissioned by the Hebrides Ensemble to write a piece for mezzo-soprano and quartet for their autumn tour. Just waiting on permission to use the text - a gorgeous poem called Aotromachd by Meg Bateman - so I can get started. . .
June 2008
14-6-8
From September I shall be Lecturer in Music at Somerville College, Oxford.
May 2008
15-5-8
Just before the recording of The Moon, the moon! last week, I was interviewed by Bob Jones for his programme Classic FM Arts Daily - you can download the podcast here (right-click, save as). Unfortunately, they didn't record what Boulez had to say...
April 2008
23-4-8
Peter's SPEM CD (including my In Nomine) is available for purchase via iTunes - follow this link. The physical object will be available from petergregson.co.uk as of Friday...
17-4-8
The gadgetery-inclined Peter Gregson will be broadcasting his multi-tracked solo-cello performance of Spem in Alium live across the internet (along with five other commissions, including my In Nomine.) So, if you can't make it to Edinburgh for the concert, do tune in to SPEMCAST.
6-4-8
In Glasgow at the IRCAM Academy.
2-4-8
More news on the upcoming performance of The Moon, the moon! - it's a free workshop, with Pierre Boulez in attendance to offer his comments. Tickets can be reserved here.
March 2008
11-3-8
WPKN are broadcasting I Saw a Woman Sit Alone, my 2003 setting of an 10th-century riddle from the Exeter Book, in their New Music New Haven programme at 10pm EST tonight. Which makes it 3am in the UK. It will be repeated on Thursday, March 13th at noon EST (5pm GMT). You can listen online or if you live near Bridgeport, CT you can tune in to 89.5FM.
February 2008
29-2-8
Scottish cellist Peter Gregson is currently in Banff, Canada recording In Nomine for solo cello alongside a multitracked performance of Spem in Alium and four other commissions for release on the CoffeeLoop label.
January 2008
29-1-8
The Moon, the moon! will receive its second performance by the LSO in St. Luke's on 10 May.
8-1-8
More reviews of The Moon, the moon! - this time from New Notes, the magazine of the spnm. Read it here.
December 2007
19-12-7
Colin Anderson of the Classical Source reviews last night's premiere of The Moon, the moon! here. "Music to hear again". If you were there and want to comment on the concert you can do so at the Sound Adventures website.
18-12-7
The LSO's Sound Adventures website now contains an "in-depth" interview and alternative programme note for The Moon, the moon!
November 2007
21-11-7
Martin has been commissioned to write a new work for Grimethorpe Colliery Brass Band, to be performed in next year's Deal Festival. Grimethorpe Colliery Band are famous from the film Brassed Off and are once again National Brass Band Champions.
October 2007
26-10-7
Martin has been nominated for a BACS British Composer Award. His piece Mosaic, commissioned by the New Edinburgh Orchestra, as part of spnm's Adopt-a-Composer scheme has been shortlisted in the Making Music category.
September 2007
18-9-7
The premiere of The Moon, the moon! by the LSO has been set for 18th December, conducted by Michael Francis. As this is part of the Sound Adventures scheme, the inclusion of this piece in the concert will not be announced - but tickets are available here.
1-9-7
Martin has been appointed a teacher of Musicianship and Composition at the Royal College of Music's Junior Department
June 2007
18-6-7
Last week's LSO / UBS Sound Adventures Workshop, at which The Moon, the moon! was performed has been reviewed by the Classical Source.com. And another review has emerged at Artshub.
May 2007
22-5-7
Martin has just begun his time as composer in residence at James Wolfe Primary in Greenwich. He will be running composition workshops with each year group as well as working with them on their school song to be performed in their summer concert.
10-5-7
"Understated, rather lovely" Breathe reviewed here. "Noteworthiness" achieved here. The internet is a strange place...
April 2007
3-4-7
Hong Kong plays host to the ISCM World Music Days this November, during which Gemini will be performed. I'm currently down as an English composer, which is not entirely accurate... (UK / British is fine)
March 2007
5-3-7
In today's Herald, Mosaic is described by Conrad Wilson as "an artful piece of fragmentary modernism".
February 2007
8-2-7
The second and third performances of Mosaic will be given by the Kelvin Ensemble in combination with the Edinburgh University Chamber Orchestra on 2 and 3 March in Glasgow and Edinburgh. The concerts, conducted by William Conway also include Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring, and Elgar's Sea Pictures. Fun stuff!
January 2007
15-1-7
Martin has been selected to take part in the Yale-RAM exchange. His new piece Breathe for 13 players (the Ligeti Chamber Concerto ensemble) will be premiered on both sides of the Atlantic in late April / early May.
December 2006
5-12-6
As a result of the Panufnik project, Martin has been commissioned by the LSO to write a 5 minute piece for their Sound Adventures series, to be workshopped on 8 June 2007, and performed at the Barbican later in 2007 or 2008.
Martin is also working on a new work for cello and electronics using the Hyperbow and featuring the Baroque talents of his brother, Christopher.
November 2006
28-11-6
The following motion is winding its way through the Scottish Parliament:
S2M-4929 Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab) : Making Music: Adopt-a-Composer— That the Parliament congratulates the New Edinburgh Orchestra on its BBC Radio 3 broadcast of Mosaic by Martin Suckling which was commissioned through the Adopt-a-Composer scheme, run by the Making Music: National Federation of Music Societies in partnership with the Society for the Promotion of New Music and the Performing Rights Society Foundation; recognises the central place of amateur music-making in local communities throughout Scotland and its importance to national cultural life; commends groups such as the New Edinburgh Orchestra on their commitment to supporting young composers by commissioning and performing new music, and wishes the next Scottish-based Adopt-a-Composer partnership of Solway Harps and composer Richard Glover every succes.
Supported by: Dr Elaine Murray, Donald Gorrie, Margaret Smith, Scott Barrie, Susan Deacon, Chris Ballance, Ms Rosemary Byrne, Rob Gibson, Maureen Macmillan, Christine May, Mrs Mary Mulligan, Rt Hon Jim Wallace, Mr Frank McAveety, Shiona Baird, Trish Godman, Mr Brian Monteith, Jackie Baillie, Karen Gillon, Pauline McNeill, Mr Jamie Stone, Mr Kenneth Macintosh, Robin Harper
Lodged on 06 October 2006; current
6-11-6
First UK performance of Gemini will take place in York Gate at the Royal Academy of Music as part of a "Composer-Performer Exchange" (30 Nov). On this occasion I'm performing as well as composing so I shall of course be exchanging some pretty uncompromising views with myself. Pedro Meireles of the Galitzin Quartet is the other half of the viola duo.
October 2006
30-10-6
According to the Radio Times, at some point during Performance on Three this Wednesday, 1 November (BBC R3, 7.30pm - 9.30pm) there will be a report on the LSO Panufnik Young Composers Project. It's only a 2 minute segment in a 2 hour programme, but some of the music played might be mine (Fanfare for a Newborn Child). The rest of the programme is AAM playing Handel, Telemann and Bach.
2-10-6
Mosaic will be broadcast at 7.30pm on BBC R3's Performance on 3 as part of the Listen Up! festival of orchestras. The LSO Discovery Panufnik Project workshops are on 17 October. Fanfare for a Newborn Child will be rehearsed by the LSO and François Xavier Roth in LSO St. Luke's.
June 2006
9-6-6
First performances of Martin's music in Scotland since 1999! Mosaic will be premiered by the New Edinburgh Orchestra on Saturday 10 June. The West of Scotland Schools' Symphony Orchestra will give the first performance of Morning Star the following Saturday, 17 June, in Motherwell.
April 2006
27-4-6
ISCM Britain have selected Gemini to go forward to the central selection panel for the World Music Days 2007 in Hong Kong.
25-4-6
Over the next year, Martin will work with Rachel Leach and Jordan Hunt on the Composing for Kids project (c4k). He will write a new work for primary-aged children, to be developed and performed by a Hammersmith school in June 2007.
March 2006
10-3-6
Martin has been selected for the LSO Discovery Panufnik Young Composers' Project 2006. He will write a 3 minute piece under the guidance of Colin Matthews to be rehearsed by the LSO in October.
4-3-6
Martin is a composer in residence at the Deal Festival, working with GCSE students at Sir Roger Manwood's School on Messiaen's Quartet for the End of Time. Each student will write a solo clarinet piece to be performed by David Campbell at the Deal Festival concert on 6 July 2006.
February 2006
20-2-6
The spnm in assocation with the Royal Shakespeare Company have selected Martin to undertake a residency with the RSC. He will be involved with the Histories section of the RSC's complete works season, focussing on the Henry VI trilogy, directed by Michael Boyd.
